Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy, Lowestoft
Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Lowestoft, part of The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 14th-highest of the 18 schools in Lowestoft with published results, and 9,982nd of 14,452 across England. It was 63% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Suffolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 71% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Suffolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 78% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 16 families put Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy as their first choice and 20 named it as one of their preferences, for 16 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy are Carlton Colville Primary School (1.9 miles); Pakefield Primary School (2.1 miles, Good, 75% reading, 78% maths); Grove Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 88% reading, 83% maths); and Westwood Primary School (2.8 miles, Good, 82% reading, 82% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy.
Carlton Colville Primary SchoolPakefield Primary SchoolGrove Primary SchoolWestwood Primary School
The trust
Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy is one of 42 schools run by The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 52% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
All 42 schools in The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust
What parents say
32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy (as of April 2026): 28% would recommend the school, 31% say their child is happy there and 13% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (38%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (13%).
Who goes there
47% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 1.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 44 pupils (22.2%) received SEN support and 15 (7.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Edmunds Crescent (adjacent), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy issued 22 suspensions, 10.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from December 2019, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school creates a warm, welcoming environment where children settle quickly and learn well. Teachers are particularly skilled at teaching reading and supporting pupils with additional needs. The curriculum is thoughtfully planned with good connections between subjects to help children remember and apply what they learn.
Key Strengths
- Expert teaching of reading with strong monitoring and timely support for struggling readers
- Excellent support for pupils with special educational needs through specialist provisions (the Nest and the Den)
- Well-designed curriculum with strong links between subjects to deepen learning
- Children in early years develop curiosity and basic skills confidently
- Strong focus on pupils' wellbeing with calm, praiseworthy behaviour and inclusive school community
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching activities in a few subjects do not ensure pupils learn the intended curriculum, leaving gaps in knowledge
- Attendance strategies are not yet fully effective despite recent improvements
- Some pupils miss out on the school's provision due to absence
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with staff well-trained and a positive culture that prioritises pupils' interests.
Extracurricular Activities
First Light Festival participation, school choir performances at local venues, trips, visits, clubs
Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy has maintained the good standards from its previous inspection. The school provides a warm, inclusive environment where pupils achieve well and thrive.
At a Glance
47.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
32 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 78% to 71% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 71% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 74% to 79% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.6
Avg class size
26.7
Infant (KS1)
26.3
KS2
8
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy
Term dates
Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Suffolk's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy is in Suffolk; for families living there:
Apply to Suffolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy
Will you get a place at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Suffolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy for 2015 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Suffolk got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
63%
Available places
197 pupils
315 places
118 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Lowestoft
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Lowestoft
Across Suffolk council
Places available
8,806
Applications
6,492
Got 1st preference
94.9%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Suffolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
44
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
29.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
198
Total Pupils
104
Boys
94
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
18.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£41,293
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,892
Per pupil
£1318k
Total funding
£121k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.5%
Overall absence
19.0%
Persistent absence
174
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% reached the expected standard in reading and 71% did so in maths.
What is Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy is oversubscribed, Suffolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy?
Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 63% of its 315 places.
How big are the classes at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy?
Classes at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy average 24.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy?
Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy has around 198 pupils on roll. 47% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy?
7.5% of sessions were missed at Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy in 2024/25. 19% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy?
Apply through Suffolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy?
Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy is at Field Lane, Kessingland, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 7QA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)